The NEW Leadership America

Leadership America — one of the longest running national women's leadership programs — was established in 1988 to recognize and bring together women of accomplishment who have achieved success in their professions, communities and beyond. Through advanced education, professional development and exclusive networking, participants establish a stronger leadership chain across disciplines throughout the nation and the world.

After taking a hiatus from regular programming in 2008 to conduct a survey on ways to improve and change Leadership America, the flagship program of The Women’s Museum: An Institute for the Future, the program launched a new format in 2009.

The leadership program provides participants the opportunity to attend one or more of the three stand-alone sessions. Each session is limited to 35 participants. The format is conversational and interactive providing opportunities for speakers, presenters and participants to engage in in-depth dialogue. Sessions are held throughout the year in cities across the nation. The third session features an optional international trip.

2010 OVERVIEW: Leadership America will explore the ramifications of a rapidly changing global environment where boundaries are blurred and borders are diminished. Programs will focus on the economy, health care and education. From evolving macro and micro economic theories to telemedicine delivery and distance learning, changing environments continue to alter the landscape of our nation and the world at warp speed. The 2010 agenda will highlight connective relationships and integrated solutions that break barriers and transcend outmoded ideas and behaviors.

History of Leadership America

Leadership America—one of the longest running national women's leadership programs in the world—was established in 1988 to recognize and bring together executive women who have achieved success in their professions, communities and beyond. Through advanced education, professional development and exclusive networking, participants establish a stronger leadership chain across disciplines and throughout the nation and the world.

Each year leading up to 2007, a select class of women participants have been identified to explore the most pressing issues facing America's private and public sectors over the course of year. Three city sessions serve as backdrops against which the program examines timely issues of interest across a wide range of professional, geographic, and personal backgrounds. An interactive agenda is uniquely created to showcase best-in-class programs and projects, as well as address compelling challenges and successes to give participants a new leadership perspective and expose them to models that are important to personal and professional development. Through the program dialogue, debate, panel discussions and site visits, participants have been inspired by leaders from all industries to expand conventional boundaries, strengthen leadership abilities, and create positive change.

Having celebrated 20 years of programming this past year, more than 2,500 graduates continue to make strides and lead in every sector of business and community, from the corporate landscape to medicine and law, in education, government and public policy, entrepreneurial endeavors, as well as in not-for-profit and volunteer arenas. Program graduates include such notable leaders as The Honorable Eddie Bernice Johnson, United States Representative, Ambassador Swanee Hunt, Director, Women & Public Policy Program, Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, Gloria G Rodriguez, Ph.D., Founder & CEO, Avance Family Support and Education Programs and Cassandra Carr, Senior Executive Vice President, AT&T to name a few.